Architecture is born on the construction site, not just behind a drawing board. This is the common thread running through the design of Augustine’s Garden in Riga, the capital of Latvia, by Latvian-Belgian design firm Sampling. The architects focus on reusing existing materials and are guided by the logic of the site and its materials, resulting in a unique aesthetic. The result is a multi-layered residential block centred around a communal garden in the courtyard.

The Augustine’s Garden site has a rich history: the Art Nouveau building facing the street was designed by Riga’s city architect at the time, Aleksandrs Vanags, while the inner block was used for industrial purposes. Perceptions of this type of architecture in Latvia are strongly influenced by the historical context. Manten Devriendt (Sampling) describes the initial resistance: “The residential style we proposed—centred around an inner courtyard—is rarely seen in Latvia today. Living in a commune is strongly associated with the Soviet past. In addition, the site is located in a neighbourhood where high-rise buildings are the norm. Inner courtyards are often considered inferior spaces, primarily intended for industrial use.”

The rather negative perception of this block of buildings calls for a different design approach, one that breathes new life into this kind of forgotten architecture. In accordance with the principles of adaptive reuse, the buildings are being repurposed as residential units. Following archival research, the historic facade will be restored, including the repair of the emblematic designs in lime plaster. The facade displays a distinct texture through the alternation of rough and smooth finishing techniques. Materiality is also central to the interior courtyard, particularly as regards the honesty in revealing it. Traces of the building’s construction history are still visible on the facades of the L-shaped building. The existing amalgam of various bricks and steel lintels will be fully preserved. Through a few interventions, these elements will take on new meaning: for example, the steel lintels and beams will create contrast with their bright colours, and openings in the exterior walls will open onto the shared inner courtyard.

The team is experimenting extensively with the materials on hand: everything is considered for reuse. Building materials freed up by the project are systematically inventoried, stored on-site, and reused. For example, cobblestones were found beneath the old asphalt pavement of the parking lot and will be incorporated into the new garden. The striking steel beams were already available on site and, after consultation with the structural engineer, were welded together in various places to support new spans. Together with the contractors, a method was developed for stacking bricks to form windowsills. Even the garden is being filled with plants that were provided by the client and are being reused.

Although this approach requires extra effort at the outset, it ultimately contributes to remarkably low construction costs and, more importantly, a site that is once again ready for the future.